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Australian fuel figures are obtained in a laboratory that mimics the demands of city and country driving. Cars are subjected to the same test, and many will use more fuel than the government sticker suggests.

The UK-based Honest John motoring website invites drivers to compare real-world fuel economy figures with manufacturer and government claims.

More than 30,000 cars have been listed there, with drivers on average reaching 87 per cent of the official fuel figure for their model.

The Toyota MR2, Land Rover Defender and Jaguar S-Type are listed among the cars with the most realistic fuel claims, while Peugeot, Renault and Volkswagen are listed as having the most realistic figures. Audi, BMW and Mercedes drivers found it tough to match their car's fuel figures.